Mitch Marner explains why he brought his former teammate on Leafs mentors’ trip

Throughout this week’s mentors’ trip, we’ve seen some inspired choices by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bobby McMann brought his elder sister, Jaclyn, while Auston Matthews selected Joe Thornton for the annual experience.

Mitch Marner went another route, selecting one of his former major junior teammates, who he described as one of his biggest rivals in the minor hockey circuit, bringing Zach Grzelewski aboard.

“We had quite the hatred for each other,” Marner said to David Alter of The Hockey News. “And then through the years, we’ve just grown a great bond. We’ve gotten close to each other. He’s been a good friend of mine for a long time now and played the game of hockey himself, so he enjoys it. I thought it would be cool for him to see what we do on a day-to-day basis.”

Grzelewski and Marner eventually became teammates on the London Knights during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, where Marner starred as one of the best players in the Canadian Hockey League.

Grzelewski starred for the Thunder Bay Kings in the minor hockey circuit, winning the HNO U16 AAA Player of the Year award for the 2013 season — and it’s perhaps worth noting that Dylan Strome won the GTHL Player of the Year award that season, over Marner. Marner starred for the Vaughan Kings, and later, the Don Mills Flyers during an outstanding career in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. He likely squared off against Grzelewski in tournaments. Rivals often become friends, and Grzelewski was a groomsman at Marner’s wedding.

Grezelewski’s hockey career ended after the 2016-17 season, after recording 11 goals and 23 points with the Markham Royals of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, but the friendships made through hockey often last forever, and it’s an inspired choice for the trip.

Marner and the Maple Leafs resume their schedule Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.